From novels to nonfiction to poetry collections — these are the books that grabbed me and wouldn’t let go — It was surprisingly difficult to narrow this year’s list down to just twelve books. Many of the books that didn’t make this list will still be rattling around in my mind, shaping my thoughts, for years to come. But here, in no particular order, are my twelve favorite books from…

Some things that brought me happiness in October and November 2022 — I was sick enough recently that even finishing basic posts was beyond me. But that didn’t keep me from enjoying things. So I’ve been saving up my favorites from the past two months. First, this palm-sized frog. All summer I had been hearing frogs — from the creek, in the…

Some things that brought me happiness in September 2022 — I know we’re more than halfway through October, and Medium doesn’t really promote these kinds of posts, but I missed making them. So here are my favorite things from September. I’m a simple woman. The calendar turns to fall, and I crave pumpkin-spiced nonsense. Lately, I’ve been feeding that craving…

These practices repel experienced writers. — Dear Editor(s), I’ve read a lot of helpful open letters about mistakes that cause you to reject submissions/pitches. Since I’ve been writing and working with editors for several years now, I thought I might return the favor. …

Many Experts Say “Heart-wrenching” Is a Mistake — This Editor Says They’re Wrong — If you have other things to do today, here’s the short version: Heart-wrenching implies a twisting (i.e., wrenching) of the heart, and heartrending implies a tearing. These differences in flavor are subtle but distinct. …

A simple and free “copy-and-paste” method keeps my submissions organized — I’ve had more than 50 pieces accepted by publications over the years. (Never mind the number of rejections.) But I was only handful of submissions into the process when I realized how essential the non-creative parts of writing are. Like tracking and organizing submissions. Long ago, I had to remove…

Short poems about everyday objects, a poetic retelling of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and more — When I tell people I’m a poet, one of their first responses is disappointment: “Oh. I don’t really like/read poetry.” And often, when I ask, the last time they read a poem was in high school. That’s a little like saying you don’t like movies because the last movie you…

A simple, snobbery-free guide from a published poet — As a poet, it’s to my own benefit if more people read poetry. So I’m less your noble Virgil/Rick Steves on this literary trek and more the local on the street corner with a bike taxi, shouting, “Hey! Five dollars to rent a sonnet! …

(Books, a New Word Game, and Other Things to Make Difficult Times a Little Brighter) Writing this post seemed especially frivolous this month, but maybe small pleasures are the most essential during dark times? (And maybe we all need some frivolous things regardless?) Miracle Fruit by Amiee Nezhukumatathil. More than…